STEP Lausanne / Luncheon Meeting FATCA and the Trust Industry - Current Practical Issues Erol Baruh
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
Introduction > FATCA s main purpose and basic design a. Enacted in 2010 for the purpose of preventing tax evasion by US persons. b. New chapter to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (Chapter 4) c. U.S. Treasury regulations d. Intergovernmental agreements (IGAs): > Model 1 (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore, ) > Model 2 (Switzerland, Japan, Hong-Kong, ) e. FFI Agreement (Notice 2014/13 January 2014) f. New accounts vs. Preexisting accounts (legacy) g. Individual accounts vs. Entity accounts
Qualified Intermediary System (2001) Individual accounts An account held by a U.S. individual taxpayer with a foreign bank was not reportable to the IRS under the QI if did not contain any U.S. securities I do not authorize disclosure of my name and authorize you to sell all my U.S. assets with you in the course of the year 2000 and I am aware that you will not invest in U.S. securities on my account A Swiss Bank considered an Account of that kind as blocked for investments in the U.S. By contrast, FATCA is designed to require reporting to the IRS of an account held by a U.S. taxpayer, even if this account contains no U.S. asset.
Qualified Intermediary System (2001) Entity accounts An account held by a (non-transparent) foreign entity was not reportable to the IRS, even if the entity is ultimately held or controlled by a U.S. Person. For the assessment whether a client is a U.S. person or a non-u.s. person as well as for the determination as to whether a client is the beneficial owner of certain assets, a QI bank, according to the QIA, is allowed to generally assume that an IRS form (W-9, W-8BEN, W-8IMY) properly filled out by the client reflects the truth, respectively that the client data collected in accordance with the KYC-rules accepted by the IRS is correct. During the negotiations for the QIA, the IRS had (orally) confirmed that a Form A used for the assessment of the beneficial owner in accordance with Swiss anti-money laundering law was not relevant for QI purposes. For assessing the beneficial owner in accordance with U.S. tax law, the QI bank can thus generally rely on a signed IRS form or an adequate substitute in its possession. Potential discrepancies to a Form A in possession of the QI are generally irrelevant. FATCA is designed to result not only in the disclosure to the IRS of accounts held directly by U.S. Person but also of accounts held by foreign structures/vehicles substantially owned or controlled by U.S. Persons.
FATCA Overview Wi th R ho ep D ldi ue or ng tin Di lig g FATCA Qualification Committee Committee led by the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF). Includes representatives of: > Swiss Federal Tax Administration > Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office > Swiss Bankers Association SBA > Swiss Association of Pension Funds ASIP > Swiss Insurance Association SIA > Swiss Funds & Asset Management Association SFAMA > SwissHoldings > Swiss Association of Asset Managers SAAM > SIX Group The FATCA Qualification Committee addresses questions arising from the implementation of the Swiss IGA. en
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Entity means a legal person or a legal arrangement such as a trust. > Foreign Financial Institution (FFI) > FFIs report information to the IRS / local tax authority. > Non-Financial Foreign Entity (NFFE) > NFFEs disclose information about their U.S. owners or controlling persons to the FFI that maintains their account.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Foreign Financial Institution > Depositary Institution (banks) > Insurance Company > Custodial Institution > Investment entity Investment Entity Category primarily aimed at investment funds and their managers, but is broadly defined and includes private structures that hold investments. Manages portfolio or otherwise invests or administers financial assets on behalf of customers Category relevant for trustees (Type A) Derives income principally from investing in financial assets and is professionally managed (i.e. is managed by a bank or a Type A investment entity) Category relevant for trusts (Type B)
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) > Investment Entity - financial income test > Under U.S. Treasury Regs, an Entity only qualifies as Type A Investment Entity if its gross income attributable to its financial asset management activities on behalf of customers exceeds 50% of its gross income over the last 3 years. > This test also applies under Swiss IGA, according to guidance issued by the Swiss Qualification Committee. This may be relevant for fiduciary companies, law firms or investment management company acting only on behalf of affiliated companies. > This same reasoning likely applies in connection with the provision the U.S. Treasury Regs according to which a Type B Investment Entity (i.e. a trust) qualifies as FFI only if its income is primarily (i.e. over 50%) attributable to financial assets.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #1 X, an individual, establishes Trust A, a non-grantor non-u.s. trust for the benefit of X's children, Y and Z. X appoints Trustee A, an individual, to act as the trustee of Trust A. Trust A's assets consists solely of financial assets, and its income consists solely of income from those financial assets. Pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, Trustee A manages and administers the assets of the trust. Trustee A does not hire any entity as a third-party service provider to perform any asset management activities, so manages the assets himself.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #2 Same facts except that X hires Trust Company (an FFI) to act as trustee on behalf of Trust A. Trust Company manages and administers the assets of Trust A in accordance with the terms of the trust instrument for the benefit of Y and Z.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #3 Same facts with Trust Company as a trustee, except that Trust A's assets consist solely of direct interests in real estate located within the United States and abroad.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #4 Same facts, except that: a) Trust A further includes artwork, jewelry and an airplane; and b) the trustee of Trust A holds the assets of Trust A through an underlying company (UC).
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #5 Same facts except that the assets in Trust A are predominantly financial and X, the settlor, creates a private trust company (PTC) to administer the trust and act as trustee. PTC is run by family members of X.
FATCA classification (FFI vs. NFFE) Example #6 An individual creates a SPV. The SPV holds exclusively financial assets. One of the SPV s director is a Swiss entity (a company limited by shares). As director, the Swiss entity has authority to manage / dispose of the SPV s bank accounts.
FFI Trusts Beneficiary 2 > Financial account under FATCA means a. Depositary account (upstream account) b. Custodial account (upstream account) c. Equity or interest in an Investment Entity (downstream account) Settlor Downstream account Trust Downstream account Beneficiary 1 Account Holder(s) of a FFI Trust = owner(s) of an equity interest in the trust Downstream account > Equity interest in a trust (U.S. tax law!) > A person who is an owner of all or a portion of the trust (grantor trust) > A beneficiary who is entitled to a mandatory distribution from the trust > A beneficiary who may receive a discretionary distribution from the trust but only if such person receives a distribution in the calendar year. Underlying Company Bank deposit Upstream account
FFI Trusts Compliance Methods > Directly registering with the IRS > Participating FFI / Reporting Model 1 or 2 FFI > Arranging for a third-party (trustee, sponsor or bank) to undertake FATCA responsibility > Deemed-Compliant FFI > Registered (with GIIN) Trustee-documented Trust Sponsored investment entity > Certified (without GIIN) Sponsored investment entity (closely held 20 or fewer investors) Investment advisors and managers Owner-documented FFIs
NFFE Trusts NFFE Trusts as U.S. Account Holders > Accounts that are held by Passive NFFEs with one or more Controlling Persons who are U.S. citizens or residents shall be treated as U.S. Accounts. U.S. Controlling persons > For trusts, Controlling Person means the settlor, the trustee, the protector (if any), the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, and any other natural person exercising ultimate effective control over the trust. > According to Qualification Committee, the concept of Controlling Person shall be interpreted the same way as the concept of beneficial owner under Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act / Swiss Bank's code of conduct on the exercise of Due Diligence (CDB). > Swiss FFI have to identify Controlling Persons behind the trust and obtain appropriate documentation from them. If the trust has a U.S. Controlling Person, the (upstream) account is considered as U.S. and is reported to the IRS.
NFFE Trusts W-8BEN-E SBA - Option A SBA - Option B
NFFE Trusts Active and otherwise exempted NFFE a. Active trade of business (manufacturing, construction, retail, utilities, ) > Less than 50% of its income are passive income (dividends, interests, ) > Less than 50% of its assets generate passive income b. Holding companies and treasury centers (of a non-financial group) c. Non-profit organization > Established for religious, charitable, scientific, artistic purposes > Exempt from tax in its country of residence Active NFFE accounts are deemed not to be U.S. Accounts. No reporting and no withholding is required. Accounts do not need to be considered when applying procedures to identify U.S. Persons.
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
Due DiIligence U.S. Indicia 1. U.S. citizen or resident; 2. U.S. place of birth; 3. U.S. mailing or residence address (including a U.S. PO box or in-care-of ); 4. U.S. telephone number; 5. Standing instructions to transfer funds to an account maintained in the U.S.; 6. Currently effective power of attorney or signatory authority granted to a person with a U.S. address; or 7. An in-care-of or hold mail address that is the sole address on file Curative documents 1. Self-certification; and/or 2. Documentary evidence; and/or 3. Additional documents (e.g. certificate of loss of nationality, evidence that a person is not a beneficial owner); and/or 4. Reasonable written explanation supporting claim of foreign status An FFI may not rely on a self-certification or documentary evidence if the FFI knows or has reason to know that the self-certification or documentary evidence is incorrect or unreliable
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
FATCA Documentation Withholding certificates U.S. Person W-9 Non-U.S. Person W-8BEN (Individual) W-8BEN-E (Entity) W-8IMY (QI-related) Instructions French / German Translations Signature by proxy Validity Electronic transmission
FATCA documentation Self-certification - U.S. tax status declaration > Aims at determining whether a person is subject to U.S. tax on worldwide income: > U.S. citizen (including dual citizens) > U.S. resident (green card, substantial presence test) > Subject to U.S. tax for other reasons > Includes identification details on the person reviewed > Place of birth / Citizenship(s) / Date of birth > Includes client s certification of non U.S. / U.S. status > Includes undertaking to inform the FFI in case of change of circumstances > The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. > Specific form for certification of NFFE (Swiss equivalent of W-8BEN-E)
FATCA documentation Consent to report > Swiss specific document (linked with Model II setup) > Standard Content 1. Reasons for reporting 2. Description of potential recipients 3. Description of covered information 4. Release of applicable obligation of confidentiality a. Contractual or legal b. Swiss of foreign 5. Warning that information becomes subject to the laws of the US 6. Automatically renewed until revoked in writing
FATCA documentation Consent to report FTA letter > Swiss FFIs have been required to inform the Account Holder through a letter of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) that, if the U.S. TIN and such consent are not given, (1) aggregate information about the account shall be reported to the IRS, (2) information about the account may give rise to a group request by the IRS for specific information about the account, (3) in such case, the account information shall be transmitted to the FTA, and (4) the FTA may exchange this information with the IRS in accordance with the IGA. > Swiss FFI will be required to obtain similar consent and send similar FTA letter to nonparticipating FFIs: > that exist as of December 31, 2013; and > in connection with which Swiss FFI expects to pay a Foreign Reportable Amount. > Foreign Reportable Amount means a payment of fixed or determinable annual or periodical income that would be a withholdable payment if it were from sources within the United States.
FATCA documentation
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
FATCA Reporting Aggregate Reporting vs. Individual Reporting 31 January, each year Obligation to report aggregate data on: Non-Consenting U.S. Accounts Non-Participating Financial Institution (only for 2015 and 2016) 31 March, each year Obligation to report individualized data on other U.S. Accounts International Data Exchange Service (IDES) Postponement of first aggregate reporting from 31/01/2015 to 31/03/2015 (IDES available only since 12/01/2015)
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
Treaty Requests In the context of FATCA implementation, the U.S. Competent Authority may make group requests to the Swiss Competent Authority, based on the aggregate information reported to the IRS for all the information about Non-Consenting U.S. Accounts and Foreign Reportable Amounts paid to non-consenting Nonparticipating Financial Institutions. Swiss Federal Tax Administration to issue guidelines for the documentation, which has to be transferred to the FTA within 10 days from receipt of the demand in connection with group requests (by mid February 2015).
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Classification of entities (FFI vs. NFFE) 3. Compliance method 4. Due diligence 5. FATCA documentation 6. Reporting 7. Treaty Requests 8. Responsible officer certification
Responsible officer certifications > A participating FFI must appoint a responsible officer. > A participating FFI is required to adopt a compliance program under the authority of the responsible officer, including policies, procedures, and processes sufficient for the participating FFI to satisfy the due diligence, reporting, and withholding requirements of the FFI Agreement. > No later than 60 days following the date that is two years after the effective date of this agreement, the responsible officer must: > certify completion of the due diligence procedures for preexisting accounts; > certify the absence of any formal or informal practices or procedures to assist account holders in the avoidance of FATCA.
Automatic Exchange of Information > OECD Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information ( MCAA ) > Common standard on reporting and due diligence for financial account information ( Common Reporting Standard - CRS ) > Federal Act on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOI Act) governs the implementation of the AEOI standard and contains provisions on the organisation, the procedure, judicial channels and the applicable criminal provisions > Controlling Person / Investment Entity under AEI framework
Thank you for your attention. Erol Baruh Erol.Baruh@swlegal.ch Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd / Attorneys at Law 15bis, rue des Alpes / P.O. Box 2088 / 1211 Geneva 1 / Switzerland T +41 22 707 8000 / F +41 22 707 8001 www.swlegal.ch GENEVA / ZURICH / SINGAPORE